Saturday, October 10, 2009

Arrests as rival race demonstrations clash

Police have arrested 34 people amid tense scenes at an anti-Islamic demonstration in central Manchester.

The English Defence League (EDL), which opposes "radical Muslims" and Sharia Law, staged the protest, but the anti-far right group Unite Against Fascism (UAF) arranged a counter demonstration bringing both sides together in the city centre .

Twenty-five men were arrested on suspicion of public order offences, three for affray and three on suspicion of possessing an offensive weapon, one of whom was also arrested on suspicion of possessing drugs.

A further three men were held on suspicion of racially aggravated public order offences. Police confirmed one man has received a minor injury, but did not need to attend hospital.

Earlier a 39-year-old man, who was believed to be travelling to Manchester, was arrested in Birmingham on suspicion of distributing racially aggravated material and possessing cocaine.

A heavy police line , including officers in full riot gear and on horseback, separated the rival groups as an estimated 2,000 people gathered on both sides of Piccadilly Gardens, at the heart of the city's shopping centre. Officers imposed a lockdown in the area in an effort to contain the protestors.

Protestors some masked or covering their faces with scarves, chanted and surged at police lines. There was also reports of coin throwing, while others carried placards.